Now that Barry Allen has been left in a coma after being splashed with chemicals and radiation in an explosion on Arrow, it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming pilot for spin-off series The Flash. While originally there were to be three episodes featuring the character, played by Grant Gustin, with the third occurring at the end of the season and to be a backdoor pilot (a pilot filmed as an episode of another series or a standalone movie, that the network may pick up as a series later), it was decided instead to give the show a standalone pilot instead (it is unknown if Allen will appear again this season on Arrow.) This will allow the introductory episode to lead directly in to a series rather than have a delay between the introduction and the start of the series.

So, now you need to come up with a new cast to work with Gustin…first in line is Jesse L. Martin, who played Detective Ed Green on Law & Order for many years. And he will have a familiar role as well – playing a detective. Martin’s character is Detective West, described as an “honest, blue collar cop” who will be a father figure to the young Allen.